How to make the most of Birkbeck Library during your studies

More than just books!

Birkbeck Library

Library basics

• At Bloomsbury the entrance is on the ground floor – next to the café

• Covers 5 levels of the main building• Tours on offer at the start of term• Look around this week with a day pass• Introduction to the Library video• Read the Welcome to the Library guide • Check out the Library web site

www.bbk.ac.uk/lib

Get to know the layout ofthe Library

• Books - over 300,000 items• A/V Collection – DVDs, CDs• Journals – print journals are on 4th floor• Study areas • Reading Room – a silent study area• Workstations / access to wireless network• Printing and photocopying• Self-service machines• Help Desk and Issue Desk

Opening hours

Term time:08.30 – 23.45(self-service: before 10.00 & after 22.30 weekdays, before 10.00 & after 18.00 weekends)

Changes to these times / vacation times are advertised on the Library web site.

Search for books, electronic books, journals, DVDs & CDs via the online Library catalogue.• You can borrow up to 10 books at a time • Many books can be borrowed for 3 weeks• Some books are 1 week loan, 1 day loan or

reference only• eBooks are accessible from outside Birkbeck

with your ITS username and password

Get to know the Library catalogue

• Renewals– Once you have borrowed books, you can renew

them as long as no-one else requests them• Reservations– If all copies of the book you wish to read are out on

loan you can place a request– The next available copy will be held for you– You will be notified by email

Get to know the Library catalogue

Get to know the eLibrary

• Over 35,000 electronic journal and newspaper titles

• Over 90 research databases to find out what has been published in your subject area

• Exam papers from 2002 onwards• Accessible from anywhere with internet

access

Get to know the Libraryweb site

• Opening times and service information• Detailed subject guides • Information about finding materials for essays

and dissertations• Library Induction For Everyone (LIFE) – free

online library tutorial

Getting a head start

• Get to know your library early on• Don’t leave essay writing to the last minute!• Familiarise yourself with your reading list – what

are you trying to locate? Is it a book, a chapter in a book or a journal article?

• Improve your library skills – use the LIFE tutorial• Read around your subject• Reserve books which are on loan• Make full use of the Library web site

Access to other libraries

• Reference access to University of London libraries

• SCONUL Access scheme• British Library• See the Other Libraries section of the website• You can also request items not available at

Birkbeck via the Interlibrary Loan Service

Distance learners/students with a disability or dyslexia

We have extra services for you:

• LAMP service – postal loans• Access Support Service• Assistive Technology Centre

Further help

• Library web site: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib• LIFE – online Library tutorial• Visit, ring or email the Help desk:• library-help@bbk.ac.uk• 020 7631 6063• Check your Subject Guide (online and in print)• Your Subject Librarian